ISLAMABAD: A major oil reserve has been discovered near Jhelum in Punjab, opening up a new area for exploitation of hydrocarbon potential.

With an estimated production of 5,500 barrels per day, the Ghauri X-1 oil well is expected to be the country’s largest oil-producing well and is likely to start contributing its output to the system by the end of this month.

With the Petroleum Ministry’s consent, the Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) which operates the Ghauri Joint Venture (GJV), formally announced that it had made “a significant oil discovery” in the Ghauri X-1 oil well, located in the Dhemak village of district Jhelum.

“We have made a major oil discovery in the Sakessar Formation, in the eastern Potohar region in Ghauri X-1 Well,” said the company in a public announcement.

“The 3,800 metre-deep Ghauri Well is a landmark achievement, being the first hydrocarbon discovery in the eastern part of Potohar Plateau,” said the announcement.

This will go a long way in exploiting the so-far untapped potential in the area for other exploration and production companies, the statement said.

The oil from the Ghauri X-1 well has an API gravity of 22º and flows from the Sakessar Formation at a rate of 5,500 barrels per day. The well’s pressure (post-acid) is 1100psi and the well’s gauge or choke size is 32/64, the statement said, adding that oil reserves at the well are estimated at 22 million barrels.

Crude oil with an API gravity of 22º is known as heavy crude.

According to the company, additional reserves may also be present in the Kussak Formation, where oil flows at the rate of 136 barrels per day with a nitrogen kick-off, owing to the tight nature of the reservoir.

Sources said the company would be widening the road from the oilfield to the Rawalpindi-Lahore Grand Trunk Road, but would start transporting oil to the Attock Refinery near Rawalpindi by end of this month.

The company has also taken up the laying of a 14-kilometre pipeline from the Dhemak oil field to a filling point near Sohawa on the G.T. Road so that oil could be transported through tankers to the Attock Refinery.

The company is also considering setting up a refinery near Sohawa to refine crude oil as production from other fields is also expected to increase, an official said.

Okay...so.....assuming if we churn out barrels at full capacity(5,500 barrels/day) then the field will be depleted in exactly 10-11 years time.

Note: total estimated reserve of this field is 22 million barrels.

Every little counts. Pakistan uses ~400,000 barrels of oil a day. At full capacity this would provide ~1.5% capacity for a decade. It's not going to change our lives forever, but it's another drop in the ocean. I'm a strong believer that lots of little micro energy projects is the way forward for the short and medium term, particularly with a focus on renewable energy where possible.

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dude do you even know how bad the fracking is for the environment? There are load of reports on dangerous effects of fracking on nearby population.

Not really... something most people dont know is that fracking has been around since the 1950s...started in Oklahoma. Its just that there is a lot more of it now. Fracking is not the problem. Its about well integrity and poor regulations. It can be done safely. .. just needs the right science. .. just as surface/sub-surface mining can be hazardous without regulations. .. so too can fracking.

All the anti-fracking hysteria is sponsored by the global warming crowd... which is a whole different issue...

As far as this new pool well is concerned... the "high" oil rate will dramatically decline intially... but if they (marigas) over produce this new pool they will more than likely destroy the so-called reserves.... considering its heavy oil and tight reservoir... I would guess they will only ultimately recover 6% of the 22 million bbls... and im being generous here!!!... btw.. they used nitrogen stimulation... its pump-baby-pump... lol... They will kill the well.

As far as refining. .. cracking (yes.. not a typo...cracking not fracking) heavy oil will require major upgrades to the refinery... my hunch is the oil will be refined outside of pak... and sold for international US$... No net benefit for Pakistan... just fill the pockets of fat retired pak generals who use marigas as their retirement fund.

Peace...

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Okay...so.....assuming if we churn out barrels at full capacity(5,500 barrels/day) then the field will be depleted in exactly 10-11 years time.

Note: total estimated reserve of this field is 22 million barrels.

No oil well in the world produces oil at a continious rate till end of recoverable reserves.... esp the intial rate!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Everybody is entitled to my opinion!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Some of you may die, but that's a sacrifice I am willing to make." -- Lord Farquaad, "Shrek"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------`Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.'------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary idea! G.Orwell------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No... initial production doesnt mean anything. .. it all depends how big the pool is... still too early to say definitely. ... ignore the nonsense about reserves...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Everybody is entitled to my opinion!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Some of you may die, but that's a sacrifice I am willing to make." -- Lord Farquaad, "Shrek"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------`Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.'------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary idea! G.Orwell------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------